Fast cars, fireworks to fill Silver Dollar Speedway

The Silver Dollar Speedway has more than races for the Fourth of July.

The track will once again put on a fireworks show tonight after today's races conclude.

Fast cars and freedom are the theme at the speedway's Independence Day and Night of traditional grassroots racing and fireworks.

The 410 winged sprint cars, street stocks, mini stocks and hobby stocks will provide the fireworks on the track on the quarter-mile clay oval.

After the races, the skies will light up with the traditional fireworks.

The front grandstand gate opens at 5 p.m. with qualfiying to begin about 5:30 p.m. and racing scheduled to start at 6.

Admission for adults is $16, juniors ages 12-15 is $12, children 11 and younger are free. Tickets can be purchased at the speedway box office located at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds.

Chico's Brad Bumgarner and Kenny Allen will lead the list of area drivers vying for the $3,000 payday. Paradise's John Michael Bunch and defending track champion Tyler Wolf of Redding are also entered. Chico's Michael Tarter and Kevin Sharrah are also expected to compete. Top King of the West driver Sacramento's Willie Croft is also scheduled.

Misty Castleberry has been on a tear of late at Chico winning the past two mini stock main events. She is third in points behind second-place Jason Clayton and leader Shaun Merritt. The only other winner this year is Merritt. The top five in mini stock points are separated by eight points. Today will mark the division's fourth race of the year.

Another driver on a roll is Orland's Jake Vantol. He has won two of the past three main events at Chico and is the current points leader. Vantol beat Chico's Phil Marino this past Friday. The two will battle it out once again today. Chico's Bill Patterson will look to add another win to his season while Shawn Smith and Richard Workman will try and break into winner's circle.

The hobby stocks will return to the speedway fresh off their performance Friday. Brian Compton has been the best on the track in this division with two wins. Mike Slightom Jr. and Jason Rash will try to break Compton's streak.

For more information call the track office at 350-7275 or visit www.silverdollarspeedway.com.

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